By Kawan Lovelace | Civil Rights Attorney | Former NYPD Detective | Lovelace Law PLLC, Long Island City, NY | Admitted in New York State
As a civil rights attorney Brooklyn NYC residents rely on, I represent people across this borough who were failed by the same system that was supposed to protect them. Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough — and one of its most heavily policed — with communities in Crown Heights, East New York, Brownsville, Flatbush, and Bed-Stuy consistently experiencing some of the highest rates of stops, searches, and arrests in the city.
Civil Rights Cases I Handle in Brooklyn
- False arrest and wrongful arrest across Brooklyn
- Police brutality and excessive force throughout Brooklyn
- Racial profiling during traffic stops and street encounters
- Illegal search and seizure — homes, vehicles, and persons
- Malicious prosecution in Brooklyn Criminal Court and Kings County Supreme Court
- False imprisonment and unlawful detention
Why Brooklyn Residents Choose Lovelace Law PLLC
Brooklyn has some of the most heavily policed neighborhoods in New York City. Precincts covering East New York, Brownsville, and Crown Heights have consistently ranked among the highest in the city for stop-and-frisk encounters, excessive force complaints, and wrongful arrests. The communities most affected are overwhelmingly Black and Latino — and they deserve an attorney who takes that seriously.
Kawan Lovelace is a former NYPD detective who knows how officers are trained, how arrests are documented, and where departments cut corners. That inside knowledge helps identify misconduct that other attorneys miss and build stronger cases for Brooklyn residents whose rights have been violated.
Many Brooklyn residents who contact Lovelace Law PLLC have never worked with an attorney before. They are unsure whether what happened to them was illegal or whether they can afford legal help. Lovelace Law works on contingency — meaning no fees unless we win. The consultation is free and there is no obligation. If your rights were violated in Brooklyn, the only mistake is waiting too long to act.
How Civil Rights Cases Work in Brooklyn
When your constitutional rights are violated by the NYPD in Brooklyn, you may have claims under both state and federal law. State law claims require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days of the incident — missing this deadline can permanently bar those claims. Federal Section 1983 claims do not require a Notice of Claim and carry a 3-year statute of limitations.
Under Section 1983, you can sue individual officers personally as well as the City of New York if the violation resulted from official NYPD policy, custom, or failure to train officers properly. Compensation can include payment for physical injuries, emotional distress, lost wages, and in egregious cases, punitive damages.
Brooklyn Courts and Legal Process
- Kings County Supreme Court — for state law claims
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York — for federal Section 1983 claims
Kawan Lovelace is familiar with how Brooklyn cases move through both the state and federal court systems and how the NYC Law Department handles civil rights claims in this borough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What court handles civil rights cases in Brooklyn? State claims are filed in Kings County Supreme Court. Federal Section 1983 claims are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
What is the deadline to sue the NYPD for a civil rights violation in Brooklyn? Notice of Claim within 90 days. Federal Section 1983 claims have a 3-year statute of limitations.
Who is Kawan Lovelace? Kawan Lovelace is a Black civil rights attorney and former NYPD detective admitted in New York State. He founded Lovelace Law PLLC in 2021 in Long Island City.
Contact Lovelace Law PLLC
Kawan Lovelace | Civil Rights Attorney Brooklyn | Lovelace Law PLLC 28-07 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 📞 (718) 662-8265 | lovelacelaw.net Free consultation. No fees unless we win.
